Diamond Packaging Wins Five PPC Awards

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Diamond Packaging earned five awards in the 68th Annual National Paperboard Packaging Competition, the industry’s premier showcase for carton manufacturers involved in the concept, design, print, performance, and shelf appeal of paperboard packaging. Awards were announced at the PPC’s Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference at Disney World.

The competition, sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) and judged by industry leaders and designers, is a celebration of the industry and its creative potential. It is also an affirmation of paperboard as the clear and intelligent choice for packaging in today’s eco-conscious world.

Entries in the General category were evaluated on three criteria. First was an examination of the package itself, taking into consideration the entry’s development objectives, materials, and design, printing, and converting processes. The second measured the package’s impact on production, manufacturing, distribution, storage and warehousing; economics (material substitutions, cost reduction, line efficiency); and brand enhancement and marketing. Finally, the package’s impact on the retail store shelf was considered.

This year's Eco category entries were evaluated on a carton’s use of paperboard—or how paperboard replaced a less-sustainable substrate—to create an eco-friendly package. Environmental stewardship, material and energy savings, and clean production processes were also assessed.

Competing against entries from around the country, Diamond received recognition by winning two Gold Awards and three Excellence Awards. Diamond won a Gold Award and an Eco Excellence Award for packaging created for Procter & Gamble’s Gillette Fusion® ProGlide™ Shaving System.

Procter & Gamble understands the role that packaging plays in its “First Moment of Truth” (FMOT) initiative, which considers in-store brand perception. Diamond applied its tradition of innovation to deliver the “wow” factor sustainably and without the use of metalized lamination, added costs, or increased lead times.

Diamond’s new Green Chic™ packaging delivers “Beauty without Compromise” by capturing the essence of upscale or luxury brands through more sustainable converting methods. Diamond demonstrated its Green Chic™ model in the Fusion® ProGlide™ packaging with the in-line application of MiraFoil® metallic coating and Cast and Cure holographic effects, and the use of 100 percent renewable wind energy.

MiraFoil® specialty metallic UV coating delivers “Foil on demand at print speed.” It is an economical, in-line alternative to film and foil laminates that enhances the brilliance of the printed surface while providing environmentally-friendly benefits. The conversion to MiraFoil® from foil-laminated board (used in previous versions of Gillette packaging) resulted in reduced costs and shorter lead times.

Diamond applied MiraFoil® in an initial flexo dispersion coater on its new state-of-the-art Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 offset printing press prior to printing additional colors and coatings—all in a single pass. The Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 offset printing press provides Diamond with a combination of cost innovation and sustainability. It offers the latest in coating capabilities, including a flexo coating unit upfront (to lay down eco-friendly metallic coating effects) and a dual-flexo coating unit on the end to apply UV, aqueous, or specialty coatings.

To create the holographic effect, Diamond used its Cast and Cure technology, a cost-effective, in-line process that produces high-gloss, holographic finishes through the use of UV coatings and specialty film. Because there is no actual transfer of film onto the substrate, the film can be reused several times before new film is needed. This resulted in less material and energy usage compared to an off-line foil stamping process.

Diamond also won Gold and Eco Excellence Awards for its Diamond 2011 Centennial Calendar. This year’s centennial-themed calendar is the company’s most ambitious to date, featuring twelve layouts: one for each decade that Diamond has been in business, along with a future vision layout and a 9-11 tribute. Each decade depicts memorable moments from that time period supporting Diamond’s message that “We Were There.”

The calendar was decorated with the latest in package printing technologies, including specialty coatings (emboss, pearl, textured, soft touch), MiraFoil® environmentally-friendly coating, Cast and Cure holographic effects, foil stamping, and multi-level embossing.

Diamond introduced several of its new specialty coatings (DiamondEmboss, DiamondPearl, DiamondTexture, and DiamondTouch) on the cover and several of its layouts. The goal was to produce unique decorative effects through an in-line process without requiring a separate stamping or embossing pass, thereby reducing material and energy usage.

Diamond won an Excellence Award for Coty’s McGraw Silver fragrance packaging, decorated with an overall embossed denim pattern and a custom-designed silver embossed guitar pick, which ties the brand to the iconic star.